AUSTIN, Tex. — The Austin Convention Center is revving up for its expansion project, which will begin in 2025 and is expected to be completed in late 2028. The $1.6 billion project is projected to double the size of the rentable space with the addition of 709,000 net square feet overall.
The plans for the facility include a vertical design, which will allow for the ground level to house retail businesses, with exhibition space below. The project will also turn the convention center and immediate area into a more community-centric area where attendees and residents can enjoy the city’s offerings.
“The current convention center suffers from a lack of meeting space and adequate exhibit hall and ballroom space compared to its peers,” the Austin Convention Center Department said in a statement. “Expansion of the existing center is critical to capturing existing and future demand, and the associated economic benefits of hosting events at the Austin Convention Center. To minimize the impact on customers and the community, a one-phase building concept and approach model will be used for the construction project. In using a vertical approach to deliver a larger, more efficient facility, the goal of the redevelopment of the Austin Convention Center is to transform the southeast corner of downtown into a community-centric destination for trade show attendees and the community.”
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The expansion will be led by the same group that led the Seattle Convention Center Summit building development. The architectural features will include state-of-the-art technology, green space, and more outdoor event space as the Austin Convention Center joins the ranks of the “fifth generation of convention centers.”
The project will be funded from the Austin Convention Center revenues and the facility’s allocation from the municipal Hotel Occupancy Tax. Visit Austin reports that the convention center’s expansion is expected to draw more hotels to the city, thus increasing its capacity to hold large-scale events simultaneously. The project is estimated to generate an additional $282 million in economic impact.
The first event to take place in the completed facility will be South by Southwest (SXSW), a tech, music, education, film and culture event. The nine-day annual event features conference sessions, film and TV screenings, music and comedy festival showcases, exhibitions and awards.
The expansion project also comes as Austin undergoes an airport expansion and plans the development of a light rail system to improve public transportation.
